Australia’s proposed ban on children under 16 using social media has been met with skepticism by YouTube, which claims the legislation will be “extremely difficult” to enforce and may not achieve its intended goal of keeping kids safer online. The ban, announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last year, is set to come into effect by the end of 2025 and will apply to popular platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, with heavy fines of up to Aus$49.5 million (US$32 million) for non-compliance.

YouTube, which will also be subject to the ban, has argued that it should be exempt from the legislation, citing its status as a video streaming platform rather than a social media service. Rachel Lord, YouTube’s local spokeswoman, told a Senate committee that while the ban is “well intentioned,” it may have unintended consequences and will be challenging to enforce. Lord emphasized that well-crafted legislation can be an effective tool in keeping children and teens safer online, but the solution lies not in restricting their access to the internet, but rather in building on industry efforts to create a safer online environment.

Australia has been at the forefront of global efforts to prevent internet harm, but the current legislation lacks detail on how the ban will be enforced, leading some experts to express concerns that the law may be largely symbolic. Social media companies have previously criticized the laws as “vague,” “problematic,” and “rushed.” The eSafety Commissioner will be responsible for monitoring compliance and imposing fines on companies that fail to adhere to the rules. While the government has stated that social media giants will not be required to verify the ages of all users, they must take “reasonable steps” to detect and deactivate underage accounts.

The proposed ban has sparked debate about the effectiveness of legislation in regulating online activity and protecting children from internet harm. As the Australian government moves forward with its plans, it remains to be seen how the ban will be enforced and whether it will achieve its intended goal of keeping kids safer online. The outcome of this legislation will be closely watched, both in Australia and internationally, as governments and tech companies grapple with the challenges of regulating the online world.